Meknes

Once the country’s capital, Meknes is one of four imperial cities in Morocco (the others being Fes, Marrakech and Rabat). Its historical sites are regal and recall days of power under Sultan Moulay Ismail.

While most tour operators combine a visit here with a stop in Volubilis and Moulay Idriss, you could easily spend a day taking in the historical sites alone. Or, try simply sitting in the Place el Hadim sipping coffee and admiring the imposing city walls of this UNESCO World Heritage site and the Bab el Mansour gate, behind which the imperial city’s main sites lie.

Because Meknes receives so few visitors (the city is often overlooked in favour of nearby Fes and the Roman ruins of Volubilis), meandering in the medina is pleasant and visiting the historical sites often means very few other tourists.